my flatmates and i have moved out of a place recently after 24 month of tenancy. the invently included electric appliances such as hoover and TV with built-in VCR. The landlord claim the hoover and VCR is not working.
do we have to replace it?
the thing is the hoover (cheap cyclone one) does switch on but the suction is weak but ,as far as i know, it has always been like that. we never actually used VCR, as we watch DVD instead.
as for hoover, i think it is just a lifecycle of a cheap vacuum cleaner. VCR we never actually used.
are we responsible for this?
2006-10-10 04:31:51 · 10 answers · asked by T M 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
If you have lived there for 24 months then I would say no, you are not responsible for these items. The term "fair wear and tear" should cover the circumstances you describe, otherwise each time a tenant moved out of a property they would always be replacing things.
If your landlord takes the cost of these items off your deposit when he returns it to you, I would take further action and threaten a summons in the small claims court.
2006-10-10 04:36:39 · answer #1 · answered by frontera2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer to this question comes down to how much are you willing to fight? I will start by saying there is a easy way to avoid this in the future. Make sure to note on your lease any damage with items in the apartment when you move in. This is especially important for equipment and items such as you describe. This was not done in your case, but keep it in mind for the future.
He would technically have to prove that you did damage above and beyond what could be expect for normal wear. Since he did itemize the items, he has the right to hold your deposit until you fix or replace the items or a court orders him to pay. The question is how much are we talking about? If he is charging you a fair price for the items, and it is not too much, you may want to let it go. If it is unreasonable, you have the right to replace the items with a equal or great item. If these were as bad as you make out, the Salvation Army may have a cheap replacement for you. If you want to fight it for the money or just principle, you will have to take it to small claims court. This will get to be a big hassle, so you need be sure it is worth it. A lot of landlords are shady, so you really have to protect yourself at the beginning if you can. Good luck
2006-10-10 12:02:46 · answer #2 · answered by Craig B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It probably depends on the laws in your area. When you signed your lease with the landlord, you should have made a note of the items that did not work at that time. Since that was not done, I would suspect that you all are responsible for the items not working. The vacuum may just need something as simple as a cleaning and replacement of the filter. VCR's are cheap, so I'd bite the bullet and replace it. Use this as a learning experience and make sure you make a note of these things for the future.
2006-10-10 11:40:15 · answer #3 · answered by Adina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not responsible for the vacuum. It is just wear and tear. Anyway it is probably just a blocked or dirty filter or a full dust container.
The VCR is something you should have checked when you rented the place so technically you could be responsible.
Presumably you got your bond back when you moved out so I can't see how the landlord can do anything because it is HIS responsibility to verify the condition of everything BEFORE he returns the bond. Technically the VCR could have stopped working 5 minutes before he called you so if you already got your bond I would ignore it. He isn't likely to take you to court for the repair cost of an old VCR and even if he were daft enough I don't see how he could prove that ti stopped working before you left.
2006-10-10 11:51:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes im afraid so, If you dont your land lord can make it really hard to get your deposit back. What you should do is buy a very cheap hoover and VCR and make sure they work, that way they cant really argue
2006-10-10 11:36:29 · answer #5 · answered by vickicraig86@btinternet.com 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you report the faults with your landlord prior to moving out then you are responsible.
You can get the things quiet cheap from charity stores
2006-10-14 04:47:51 · answer #6 · answered by Candy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has the landlord proof that these items worked when you moved in, did you sign anything to say they worked?, if not then you have a chance of getting away with it.
2006-10-10 11:47:23 · answer #7 · answered by XhappytalkX 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, if u dont replace the things listed u wont get ur deposit back
2006-10-10 11:40:52 · answer #8 · answered by mishnbong 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask for them to be independently tested.
2006-10-10 11:39:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2006-10-10 11:39:33 · answer #10 · answered by candyfloss 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋